http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/blackbearf_5220.mp3
A black bear was found dead in a small creek in southern Webster County last week.
Jerry Austin is a conservation agent in Webster County.
“We responded and discovered a 150-200 pound female adult black bear had been shot and killed and dumped at a location here in Webster County.”
The bear had been shot with an arrow and some body parts were missing. It is illegal to hunt and kill black bears in the state of Missouri. There are only 150-300 black bears left and most are located in the southern part of the state.
“It’s a class A misdemeanor so they could have levied on them a fine of up to $1,000 per count and up to six months in jail.”
Austin says the last time a black bear was killed illegally was 16 years ago when a deer hunter in Howell County saw movement in the woods and thought it was a deer. Austin said he paid a fine.
Austin is currently investigating the death of the bear and urges the public to call him at 417-859-3643 or the Conservation hotline at 1-800-391-1111 if anyone has any information.
For KSMU News, I’m Matt Evans.